초록

A keeper and a latch secures a first member such as a door panel against a second member such as a corresponding frame. The keeper is adapted for attachment to the second member and engages the latch in a fastened position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A latch for securing a first member relative to a second member, the latch comprising: a housing adapted for attachment to the first member, said housing having a longitudinal axis; a knob supported by said housing, said knob being movable between an extended position and a retracted position

1. A latch for securing a first member relative to a second member, the latch comprising: a housing adapted for attachment to the first member, said housing having a longitudinal axis; a knob supported by said housing, said knob being movable between an extended position and a retracted position; a pawl movable at least from a latched to an unlatched position responsive to a predetermined movement of said knob; and catch means for selectively retaining said knob in said retracted position, said catch means acting to retain said knob in said retracted position when said knob is moved from said extended position to said retracted position, said catch means acting to release said knob such that said knob can move to said extended position when with said knob in the retracted position said knob is moved further in the same direction as the direction of motion of said knob from said extended position to said retracted position, wherein, with said knob in said extended position, said knob is moved rotationally to move said pawl from said latched to said unlatched position. 2. A latch according to claim 1, wherein said pawl moves from said latched to said unlatched position linearly in a direction substantially transverse or perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said housing. 3. A latch according to claim 1, wherein, with said knob in said extended position, said knob is moved rotationally in order to move said pawl rotationally about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said housing. 4. A latch according to claim 2, further comprising a sleeve rotatably supported in said housing, and wherein said knob is supported by said sleeve such that said knob is slidably movable relative to said sleeve while said knob and said sleeve move rotationally together at least during a portion of a rotational movement of said knob. 5. A latch according to claim 4, further comprising a boss carried by one of said sleeve and said knob, and a cam surface carried by another of said knob and said sleeve, wherein said boss is guided by said cam surface so as to provide said catch means for selectively retaining said knob in said retracted position. 6. A latching system comprising a latch according to claim 2 and a keeper adapted for attachment to the second member, wherein said pawl is biased toward said latched position, said pawl has at least one surface provided with a first series of serrations, each tooth of said first series of serrations having a ramped camming surface and a locking surface, and wherein said keeper has at least one surface provided with a second series of serrations, each tooth of said second series of serrations having a ramped camming surface and a locking surface, and wherein at least a portion of said first series of serrations engages at least a portion of said second series of serrations to secure the first member relative to the second member, said first and second series of serrations providing for greater tolerance for variations in the position of said keeper on the second member without the variations in position of the keeper interfering with proper engagement of said pawl to said keeper. 7. The latching system according to claim 6, wherein said camming surface of at least one tooth of said second series of serrations engages said camming surface of at least one tooth of said first series of serrations to thereby move said pawl toward said unlatched position as said at least one tooth of said first series of serrations slides past said at least one tooth of said second series of serrations during movement of the first member to a secured position relative to the second member.